The controversy surrounding a proposed mosque near Ground Zero leaves New York State
voters with conflicting opinions about religious freedom and the sensitivities of the families of
9/11 victims, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

By a 54 - 40 percent majority, voters agree "that because of American freedom of
religion, Muslims have the right to build the mosque near Ground Zero," the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Another 7 percent are undecided.

But these same voters agree 53 - 39 percent, with 8 percent undecided, "that because of
the sensitivities of 9/11 relatives, Muslims should not be allowed to build the mosque near
Ground Zero."

And by a 71 - 21 percent majority, voters agree "that because of the opposition of
Ground Zero relatives, the Muslim group should voluntarily build the mosque somewhere else."

By a 45 - 31 percent margin, New York State voters say they have a "generally
favorable" opinion of Islam, with 24 percent undecided.

"The heated, sometimes angry, debate over the proposal to build a mosque two blocks
from Ground Zero has New York State voters twisted in knots, with some of them taking
contradictory positions depending on how the question is asked," said Maurice Carroll, director
of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"A majority agrees that American freedom of religion gives Muslims the right to build the
mosque near the site of the terrorist attack. Republicans disagree 54 - 39 percent.

"Because of the sensitivities of relatives of the terrorist victims, an almost identical
majority, including many of the same voters, believes Muslims should not be allowed to open the
mosque."

"Overwhelmingly, across all party and regional lines, New Yorkers say the sponsors ought
to voluntarily move the proposed mosque to another location," Carroll added.

New York City voters say 63 - 28 percent that mosque proponents should voluntarily
choose another site, compared to 76 - 17 percent among upstate voters and the same 76 - 17
percent among suburban voters.

Mainstream Islam is a peaceful religion, rather than one which encourages violence against
non-Muslims, New York State voters say 54 - 24 percent, with 21 percent undecided. New York
City voters say 62 - 21 percent that Islam is peaceful, compared to 49 - 28 percent among upstate
voters and 51 - 25 percent among suburban voters.

New York State voters say 71 - 22 percent that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo should
investigate the financing of the mosque. Even Democrats say 65 - 25 percent that Cuomo should
look into the mosque's financing.

"Most voters believe that Islam is a peaceful religion. New York City voters in general
have more positive views about Islam," Carroll said.

"It's not a good time for President Barack Obama. Even in true-blue New York, his job
approval is hovering at the half-way mark," Carroll said.

From August 23 - 29, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,497 New York State registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
President?

29. Every religion has mainstream beliefs, and also fringe elements or
extremists. Thinking of mainstream Islam, do you think mainstream Islam
encourages violence against non-Muslims, or is it a peaceful religion?